Putin Visiting Rome

Vladimir Putin arrives for a two-day visit to Italy and Vatican.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives on Tuesday for a two-day visit to Italy and Vatican, during which he will talk with the Italian state top and be received by pope Benedict XVI.

Upon arrival to Rome, Putin will first meet with Italian Republic President Giorgio Napolitano in Quirinal, chief of state`s headquarters in the afternoon, and then in the evening visit Vatican. As it is anticipated, the Russian president and Benedict XVI, German by origin, will speak in German. Putin will meet the Italian Premier Romano Prodi on Wednesday.

Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Massimo D`Alema opened an Italian-Russian forum in Madama villa in Rome on Tuesday, pointing out that Italian-Russian relations are important for security and peace.

The Vatican assesses that relations with Moscow have improved, but not only between the two countries, but between two Churches.

“Positive changes in relation between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church might occur during the current Pope`s reign”, said Hilarion, representative of patriarch Alexei II, before European institutions and Vienna and Austria bishop.

“Russia and Vatican have many common things in the defence of traditional moral values and encounter of President Putin and Pope Benedict XVI will contribute to the mutual cause”, said Hilarion, while Vatican nuncio in Moscow, mons. Antonio Mennini at the same time points out the spirit of understanding between the two countries, especially international centres.

Putin stayed in Vatican in 2000 and 2003. As opposed to other Moscow heads Mihail Gorbachow and Boris Yeltsin, he did not renew his invitation to John Paul II to visit Moscow. Vaticanologists in Rome assume these days if the Russian president will invite Benedict XVI to Moscow. For his arrival in Moscow, an invitation from the Russian Orthodox Church is necessary as well. Same sources believe that Benedict XVI and patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Alexei II might meet in 2008, but outside Russia, in order to prepare for the visit of the Catholic Church head to Moscow.